[sis]

Although it is a few days early, I passed out " Li Xi' today at work to my staff and co-workers. 'Li Xi' are the red envelopes containing money traditionally given as a gift for the Lunar New Year. The housekeepers at the school I work at earn USD$125.00 per month; I placed USD$10.00 in an envelope for each of them. They thanked me and had a look of shock/surprise on their faces. A bit later I walked towards the restroom and happened to look in the housekeepers room as they were just opening their envelopes. I stepped back and observed. The women all looked at the cash, looked at each other, looked back at the cash, again. They started jumping, giggling, talking excitedly .... the look of joy on their faces brought tears to my eyes. These women are extremely hard-working, considered on the low end of value in the work world, live a meagre existence. I had probably given them the cost of a bus ticket which will take them to their hometown, and their family, some 24 hours away - a place they only visit once a year and that's during the Lunar New Year which is happening this weekend. The women came up to me, group hugged me, kept saying 'thank you, teacher, thank you, Ms Deb' and as the tears streamed down my face I kept thinking of the wonderful gift I have received, the gift of observing true gratitude. My life is so blessed.